U.S. patent number 6,024,224 [Application Number 08/971,451] was granted by the patent office on 2000-02-15 for wrap around carton.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Lever Brothers Company. Invention is credited to David Frederic Gnadt, Kevin Joseph Markey.
United States Patent |
6,024,224 |
Gnadt , et al. |
February 15, 2000 |
**Please see images for:
( Certificate of Correction ) ** |
Wrap around carton
Abstract
A combined wrap around carton, bottle and pouf. The package
permits display of the bottle and a pouf simultaneously. The bottle
is sufficiently rigid to form a portion of the support of the
package. The carton includes a central panel having two ends and
product receiving structures at each of its ends. In the erected
carton, a first product is received within two product receiving
apertures and a second product is placed behind the first one. The
package is completed with shrink wrap so that the consumer can view
the contents of the package.
Inventors: |
Gnadt; David Frederic (Owings
Mills, MD), Markey; Kevin Joseph (Westminster, MD) |
Assignee: |
Lever Brothers Company (New
York, NY)
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Family
ID: |
23886390 |
Appl.
No.: |
08/971,451 |
Filed: |
November 17, 1997 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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475148 |
Jun 7, 1995 |
5765693 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
206/763; 206/485;
206/590 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D
73/0021 (20130101); B65D 75/004 (20130101); Y10S
206/823 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B65D
73/00 (20060101); B65D 75/00 (20060101); B65D
005/50 () |
Field of
Search: |
;206/485,476,486,581,590,823,756,763,736,770 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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2235841 |
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Jan 1975 |
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FR |
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303037 |
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Oct 1965 |
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NL |
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393630 |
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Jul 1933 |
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GB |
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95/00116 |
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Jan 1995 |
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WO |
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Primary Examiner: Fidei; David T.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: McGowan, Jr.; Gerard J.
Parent Case Text
This is a Divisional application of Ser. No. 08/475,148 filed Jun.
7, 1995 now U.S. Pat. No. 5,765,693.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. a package comprising
(a) a carton including
(i) a central panel having two ends,
(ii) product receiving structures at each end, each of said product
receiving structures including
(A) a first end panel separated from said central panel by a first
score line,
(B) a second end panel separated from said first end panel by a
second scoreline,
(C) a third end panel separated from said second end panel by a
scoreline,
(D) and a fourth end panel separated from said third end panel by a
scoreline and adhered to said central panel,
(E) said third end panels each including a product receiving
aperture spaced from said fourth end panels, said package
comprising a product which is a self-supporting container received
within said product-receiving apertures, said container comprising
a plastic bottle, said package further comprising a further product
disposed between said container and said central panel.
2. The package according to claim 1 wherein said third end panels
each include a proximal third proximal to said central panels, a
middle third adjacent said proximal third and a distal third distal
to said central panel, said product receiving apertures being
disposed within said distal and middle thirds of said third end
panels.
3. The package according to claim 1 further comprising a product
which is a self-supporting container received within said
product-receiving apertures.
4. The package according to claim 3 wherein said container
comprises a plastic bottle.
5. The package according to claim 3 further comprising a further
product disposed between said container and said central panel.
6. The package according to claim 5 wherein said further product
comprises a plastic mesh.
7. The package according to claim 6 wherein said plastic mesh is a
pouf.
8. The package according to claim 3 further comprising shrink wrap
surrounding the package.
9. The package according to claim 8 wherein said shrink wrap
together with said self-supporting container maintain each of said
first and third end panels generally perpendicular to said central
panel and said second end panel generally parallel to said end
panel.
10. The package according to claim 1 wherein said carton does not
include a supporting panel or flap disposed perpendicularly to said
central flap and to said first, second and third end panels.
11. The package according to claim 1 wherein each said fourth end
panel is adhered to said central panel on a side of each said third
end panel distal to said first end panel.
12. The package according to claim 1 wherein each said fourth end
panel is adhered to said central panel on a side of each said third
end panel proximal to said first end panel.
13. The blank according to claim 1 wherein said blank does not
include a supporting panel or flap adapted to be disposed
perpendicularly to said central flap and to said first, second and
third end panels when said carton is erected.
14. The blank according to claim 1 wherein said third end panels do
not include a supporting panel or flap adapted to be folded
perpendicularly to said third end panels.
15. The package according to claim 3 further comprising at least
one further self-supporting container.
16. The carton according to claim 1 wherein said scorelines
separating said end panels from the central panel and from each
other are transverse scorelines.
17. The package according to claim 6 wherein said further product
comprises a sponge.
18. The package of claim 1 wherein at least one of said product
receiving structures defines a compartment and said compartment
contain a plastic mesh.
19. The package of claim 1 wherein said compartment is defined by
at least the first, second and third end panels of said at least
one product receiving structure and by a portion of said central
panal.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Mechanical aids to personal washing have long been known. An
example of this is the well known washcloth. Another type of
washing aid is a pouf, which is made of a mesh-like plastic
material. The pouf is used in association with e.g., a liquid
cleansing material.
It is sometimes desirable to sell two products together. An example
of this would be the sale of a liquid cleansing material together
with a pouf to assist in washing. Devising a package suitable for
two separate products presents a challenge to the packaging
developer. One aspect of the challenge relates to the need to make
both products readily and maximally visible to the consumer. A
second aspect of the challenge relates to the desire to minimize
packaging materials used, for environmental and cost reasons.
Bayer, U.S. Pat. No. 4,146,127 discloses a device for holding and
displaying footwear having first and second footwear retaining end
sections, including recessed areas adapted for the reception of
portions of the footwear. The Bayer device includes a central panel
and four end panels at each end of the central panel, the third end
panel including an aperture for receiving the footwear. The third
end panel also includes, optionally, tabs adapted to be folded to
strengthen and reinforce the end structures.
NE 303037 discloses what appears to be a package having article
receiving circular apertures centrally disposed in each third end
panel.
GB 393,630 discloses in FIGS. 1, 2, 4 and 5 racks for cutlery and
the like which include apertures in product retaining structures at
each end. In FIG. 2, a circular aperture is present in the middle
of the third end panel.
Other display cartons in the art include ones disclaimed in Forbes,
U.S. Pat. No. 3,812,957, D'Allesio, U.S. Pat. No. DES 230,572,
Anderson, U.S. Pat. No. 3,767,037, Vrana, U.S. Pat. No. 3,658,175,
Samalon, U.S. Pat. No. 3,627,115, Shreve et al., U.S. Pat. No. DES
217,131, Hansen, U.S. Pat. No. 3,252,566, Tolaas, U.S. Pat. No.
3,157,275, Rau, U.S. Pat. No. DES 194,514, Pugh, U.S. Pat. No. DES
291,065, Roccaforte, U.S. Pat. No. 4,518,086, Polito et al., U.S.
Pat. No. DES 263,566, Roccaforte, U.S. Pat. No. 4,300,683 and FR
2,235,841.
WO 95/00116 discloses a polymeric diamond-mesh bath sponge and a
liquid cleanser with moisturizer.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention concerns a wrap around carton which will permit
display of two items such as a bottle and a pouf simultaneously.
The bottle or other self supporting container, is sufficiently
rigid to form a portion of the support of the package. That is, the
ends of the package which retain the container need not be rigid
and the container helps impart rigidity to the package. In
addition, the package is preferably shrink wrapped also to provide
rigidity and to keep the package in one piece.
The wrap around carton of the invention includes a central panel
and product receiving structures at each end thereof. The product
receiving structures include four end panels each separated from
the preceding panel by a scoreline. In a preferred embodiment, the
third end panel includes a product receiving aperture which is
spaced from the fourth end panel. The fourth end panel is adhered
to the central panel when the carton is erected. The invention also
comprises a blank from which the carton may be erected.
In the erected carton, a first product is received within the two
product receiving apertures. In addition, a second product may be
placed behind the first product. Since the wrap around carton only
obscures one side of the product, excluding the portions of the
first product in the product receiving apertures, the first and
second products are readily visible to the consumer. Since the
package is completed with shrink wrap, the consumer can see into
the package including both products. To this end preferably the
central panel and most preferably the central panel and the end
panels have free edges perpendicular to the transverse scorelines
separating them.
At least the second end panels may be used as display panels, since
they face forward in the erected.panel. Consequently, it is
preferred that the product receiving apertures are spaced from the
second end panels. Advantageously, the product receiving apertures
are disposed forwardly of the fourth end panel which is adhered to
the central panel. The forward location of the self supporting
container strengthens its role as a supporting member of the carton
while leaving room for the second product between the self
supporting container and the central panel.
Use of the wrap around carton of the invention will permit
reduction in materials and therefore, reductions in costs. The
first product, i.e. the self supporting container, supports the
wrap around carton when shrink wrap is applied. If desired, more
than one self supporting container may be used in the
invention.
For a more complete understanding of the above and other features
and advantages of the invention, reference should be made to the
following detailed description of preferred embodiments and to the
accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an erected carton according to the
invention prior to addition of products or shrink wrap.
FIG. 2 is a top plan view of a carton blank which may be used to
construct the carton of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is an alternate version of the carton of FIG. 1.
FIG. 4 is a top plan view of a blank similar to that of FIG. 2
except that two product receiving apertures are present in each end
structure and the apertures are adapted for angling the two
products toward each other.
FIG. 5 is similar to FIG. 4 except that the product receiving
apertures are adapted toward angling the two bottles in the same
direction.
FIG. 6 is similar to FIG. 5 except that the product receiving
apertures are adapted to angling the two products in the same
direction but with increased space.
FIG. 7 is similar to FIG. 6 except that the product receiving
apertures are adapted to having two products facing outwardly.
FIG. 8 is similar to FIG. 7 except that the product receiving
aperture is adapted to having two bottles staggered, one in front
and one in back.
FIG. 9 is similar to FIG. 8 except that the product receiving
apertures are adapted to having two bottles, one behind the
other.
FIG. 10 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 1 except that the
first and second products and the shrink wrap are also
included.
FIG. 11 is a perspective view of an erected carton constructed from
the blank of FIG. 9.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
As best seen in FIG. 1, carton 10 of the invention comprises a
central panel 12 and product receiving structures 13, 15 at each
end. Structures 13, 15 comprise respectively first end panels 14,
22, second end panels 16, 24, third end panels 18, 26 and fourth
end panels 20, 28. The first, second, third and fourth end panels
are separated from the central panel 12 and from each other,
respectively, by scorelines 42, 44; 46, 48; 50, 52; and 54, 56.
In the erected carton seen in FIG. 1, first end panels 14, 22 are
disposed generally perpendicularly to central panel 12. The second
end panels 16, 24 are disposed generally parallel to central panel
12 and are preferably used as display panels since they will
generally face the consumer. Third end panels 18, 26 include
product receiving apertures 30, 32. These apertures preferably are
spaced from fourth end panels 20, 28, scorelines 54, 56 and central
panel 12, as seen in FIG. 1.
Although carton 10 in FIG. 1, is shown for illustrative purposes as
standing with panels 14 and 22 parallel to each other and
perpendicular to panel 12, carton 10 will not normally be
self-supporting and will only stand upright when combined with a
self-supporting product.
Fourth end panels 20, 28 are adhered to central panel 12 with hot
melt or a chemical adhesive, e.g. a water based adhesive. As seen
in FIG. 1, fourth end panels 20, 28 are folded toward the product
retaining structures. Alternatively, as seen in FIG. 3, end panels
20' and 28' may be folded away from the product retaining end
structures 13 and 15.
As best seen in FIG. 10, wrap around carton 10 is used in package
70. Package 70 further includes a self supporting container 72,
which may be a plastic or other bottle or a self supporting carton
or the like. The ends of container 72 are received within product
receiving apertures 30 and 32. Since container 72 is self
supporting, its presence imparts structure to the carton, which
need not be self supporting. Carton 10 may be made of a material
such as paperboard which would not necessarily assume the structure
in FIG. 1 without support, e.g. from container 72. The ends of
container 72 are snugly received within product receiving apertures
30 and 32. Container 72 is contained within the perimeter of the
carton.
Disposed behind container 72 is a second product, such as pouf 74.
Pouf 74 comprises a plastic mesh material. Carton 10 and the
products within are surrounded by shrink wrap 76. Use of shrink
wrap 76 insures that the product retains its integrity and assists
container 72 in supporting the product.
As can be seen e.g. FIGS. 1 and 10, the carton 10 is open on three
sides; only the side facing central panel 12 is obscured. As a
result, a consumer may readily see most of the contents of the
package. The position of apertures 30 and 32 forward of where
fourth end panels 20 and 28 are adhered to central panel 12
accommodates the inclusion of the second product, such as the pouf
behind the 12 self supporting container 72. Of course, the contents
of package 70 are visible behind shrink wrap 76, which is
transparent.
Since package 70 is supported by the container 72 and shrink wrap
76, it does not require flaps or panels extending between end
panels 14 and 18 or between end panels 26 and 22, perpendicular to
the end panels and the central panel. Also, the position of the
product receiving apertures distal to the central panel 12 assists
the package supporting role of container 72. End panels 26 and 18
are preferably, as illustrated, not as wide as panel 12. This
improves the appearance of the package when it is shrink
wrapped.
A blank 40 from which carton 10 may be made is shown in FIG. 10.
The carton is made by folding along the various fold lines to
obtain the structure in FIG. 10 and adhering fourth end panels 20
and 28 to the central panel 12. The blank is preferably made of
paperboard, corrugated board or plastic sheet.
Instead of using a single self supporting container as shown in
FIG. 10, the blank may be adapted for use of multiple self
supporting containers, as seen in FIGS. 4-9. In FIG. 4, the blank
80 includes product retaining apertures 90 and 94 adapted to having
two bottles angled toward each other, which bottles will serve as
the self supporting containers. FIG. 5 is similar to FIG. 4 except
that apertures 96 and 98 are adapted to having the two bottles
angled in the same direction. FIG. 6 is similar to FIG. 5 except
that apertures 100 and 102 are adapted to retaining two bottles
angled in the same direction but with increased space between them.
In FIG. 7, the apertures 104, 106, 108 and 110 are adapted to
receiving two bottles facing outwardly.
FIG. 8 discloses an alternate embodiment of the invention wherein
the product retaining apertures 204, 206 do extend to the
scorelines 200, 202 separating the third and fourth end panels. In
this embodiment one self supporting container is placed in front
and one in back. The containers are staggered so that they will be
readily seen by the consumer facing the display panel 16. For
instance, one bottle may be placed in the left front of the package
and the second bottle in the right rear of the package or the first
bottle may be placed in the right front of the package and the
second bottle in the left rear of the package.
FIGS. 9 and 11 show a blank and a carton, respectively, wherein two
containers can be accommodated in upper and lower hourglass-shaped
die cuts which form product receiving apertures 130, 132 and 130',
132'.
Each of the pairs 130, 132 and 130', 132' can receive a container.
Above apertures 132, 132' a compartment 134 is formed by a portion
of central panel 212, first end panel 214, second end panel 216,
third end panel 218 and fourth end panel 220. A display opening 221
is cut in panels 214 and 216 so that the contents of compartment
134, e.g. a pouf, can be readily received.
It will be apparent that the package of the invention may be made
of a material such as paper board which is less strong and less
expensive than might otherwise be required if the design of the
package did not rely on the self supporting container and the
shrink wrap for support. Moreover, the package permits the consumer
readily to inspect its contents. The amount of packaging material
used is minimized consistent with environmental goals.
The package of the invention can utilize appreciably less
paperboard than standard top and bottom tuck cartons. A reduction
in paperboard area of more than 20%, especially more than 30% and
preferably 40% or more can be enjoyed. The carton illustrated in
FIG. 1, for instance employs 108.760 in .sup.2 of paperboard as
compared to 187.619 in .sup.2 for a standard top and bottom tuck
carton.
The pouf or sponge which is contained in the carton may, e.g. be
polyethylene mesh with a cotton tie string and polypropylene tether
card. The mesh may be extruded LPPE tube. Pouts are disclosed in WO
95/00116, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by
reference.
It should be understood, of course, that the specific forms of the
invention herein illustrated and described are intended to be
representative only, as certain changes may be made therein without
departing from the clear teaching of the disclosure. According
reference should be made to the following appended claims in
determining the full scope.
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